3 report reboot questionnaire 09 01 2014 by Roy Jones

Grundtvig Learning Partnership 2012 – 2014

Report: The Questionnaire to Understand the Demands of Elderly People on Active Ageing Anna Kaźmierska, Joanna Unterschütz, Ph.D.

REBOOT: Retired But nOt Tired Belgium Italy Poland Turkey UK

INTRODUCTION

1. RESPONDENTS’ PROFILE

2. EMPLOYMENT STATUS

3. SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND ENGAGEMENT IN CIVIL SOCIETY

4. USE OF COMPUTER

5. HEALTHY AGEING

6. LIVING CONDITIONS

7. FINANCIAL SITUATION

9. INTERGENERATIONAL SOLIDARITY

8. CONCEPT OF ACTIVE AGEING

FINAL REMARKS

ANNEXES

Introduction The following report is based on the outcome of research undertaken in the partner countries. The research was based on a simple questionnaire handled to a small-‐ about 30 persons -‐ group of elderly persons in Belgium, Italy, Poland, Turkey and the UK. The aim of the exercise was to become familiar with respondents situation regarding their living conditions, employment status, but also their health, engagement in the civil society and the concept of active ageing their share, and specifically their views on some policy measures that could facilitate or enable or at least encourage elderly persons to lead active life from one hand and to realize what are the obstacles which hinder such attitude. 1. Respondents’ profile The research covered a group of 155 respondents in five countries: Belgium, Italy, Poland, Turkey and UK. Almost 60% of them were women. In various countries, female respondents prevailed especially in Poland (80%) and in Belgium (67%). There were slightly more men than women in Turkey.

The age -‐ span of our respondents was quite wide: 55 to 85+ years, although in most of the countries the larger group was aged 66-‐65 with an exception of Italy where respondents from the age group 66-‐75 prevailed. In the older age group (85+) there were only 4 persons: 1 from Belgium and 3 from Turkey. Most of the respondents placed themselves in one of the younger groups 55-‐65 (46%) and 66-‐75 (38%).

As to their marital status, most of the respondents were married (65%), 1/5 – widowed and less than 10% were divorced, single or co-‐habiting.

Here the picture is quite similar in most of the countries. We can see the largest number of widowed persons in Belgium and Turkey. 2. Employment status Almost half of the participants of the research are younger than the retirement age (65 in most of the countries). Still, only 26% of the respondents

were

still

active

participants of the labour market. The responses were very similar in most of the countries, with an exception of the UK where 54% persons declared they were still working.

The majority of respondents have had a long working career of 31-‐45 years (45%). One fourth has worked between 16 and 30 years and slightly more enjoyed a long, 45-‐years working life than a short – 15 years long one. Longer careers seem to be more common in the UK (which coincides with the statement on the current employment status) and in Italy. At the same time Italy is among these countries where the largest number of respondents did not spend many years on the labour market. Short working time was declared mostly in Belgium.

The employment status of the respondents was varied. Similar number of respondents described themselves as workers, employees, self-‐employed

and

declared

other

employment form (civil servant, official, housewife and a director). In most of the countries former (or present) workers and employees constituted the largest group. This is the case of Belgium (70%), UK, (68%), Turkey (55%) and Italy (53%). Only in Poland most of the respondents placed themselves in the “other’ category and only 3 persons described themselves as workers. This could be caused either by the specific choice of group of the respondents or by different understanding or translation of the questionnaire.

At the same time the number of self-‐employed varied from country to country: the largest percentage of self-‐employed in the researched group was found in Italy (38%) and the UK (32%) and the smallest in Belgium (10%). This only shows that our respondents have very different background in terms of their employment status.

The respondents were also asked about their opinion in the following matter: Should employers be required to provide adjusted work to older adults when they reach a certain age and encounter difficulties performing their job. 82% of them agreed that such obligation should be laid upon the employers and they were quite unanimous about it. Even though the question is purely hypothetical, it may suggest that there is a group of elderly workers who decide to end their working career because the work is too demanding for them. It may also mean that the employers have similar expectations

concerning

performance of work for younger and older workers and do not tend to fully take advantage of the potential and experience of older workers, who may not be able to fork as effectively as they used to, but they could share their knowledge and practical experience with newcomers and younger colleagues.

3. Social activities and engagement in civil society Even though most of the persons that took part in the research were no longer working, only about 1/3 was engaged in some form of voluntary work. Most numerous groups of volunteers can be found in the UK (68%) and the smallest one in Poland (10%). In other countries about a quarter of respondents were engaged in voluntary activities.

Engagement in the civil society is not too high either, even though we can observe a variety of activities undertaken outside home. Only 46% of the respondents declared they were not member of any organisation. Those that were taking active part in social life were members of socio-‐ cultural organisations, religious communities, sport and political organisations. Among other activities the following were mentioned: professional organisations, community organisations, local NHS fund, okra, time bank, third world organisation dance, choir, drum band association of CNA pensioners and association for children and grandchildren.

Political activity seems to be most poplar in Italy (12%) and none of the Belgian respondents was engaged in politics. At the same time 27% of Belgian participants were members of sport organisations, 11% in UK and none In Italy and Poland. Social activity of church/mosque organisations does not draw attention of many older participants, with exception of UK and Belgium; still this should not be regarded as equivalent to lack of faith or attendance in religious services. It is a pity that we do not know about the nature of social and cultural activities the elderly people tend to be involved in, as in most of the countries this was the area of activity that seems most attractive for most seniors. Some of the examples were probably given in the “other” category, even though they were named more specifically as dance or musical passions of the respondents. Most of the respondents meet younger (younger than 40 years) persons on a daily or weekly basis. For most of them meet it is their children or younger neighbours whom they see every day and younger friends -‐ weekly. About 40% meet their grandchildren every day and every week. Some have younger brothers and sisters, colleagues, clients or members of extended family whom they meet often. The majority of our respondents lead a reach social life most of all in the family circle. There are also some who never see their grandchildren (perhaps because they do not have any yet) friends and neighbours.

Also here the answers vary from country to country. The British and Belgians seem to socialise less with younger persons, most of those whom they meet on a daily or weekly basis are their children, neighbours and friends.

Polish respondents meet their younger neighbours more often than their close family member, and their social life also seem s less intense than the average.

The Italians and Turks see their younger family members, friends and neighbours most often. Many Italians see their children and grandchildren every day (even in more cases than their neighbours), and 14% of them meet their friends every week.

The Turkish respondents seem to be most sociable towards younger persons. Many of them see their children, friends, neighbours and grandchildren every day!

Later we will see that only in case of Turkish respondents this intense social life is also co-‐related with strong inter -‐ generational solidarity. More Turks imagine they can live with their children when they cannot cope on their own than Italians. 4. Use of computer Computer and Internet used by the majority of respondents (63%) serves as a source of information (54%) and a device, which facilitates keeping social bounds with friends and relatives (43%). Some of the interviewees use it to play games and to work but only 4% to take part in online courses. The smallest number of computer users could be found in Turkey (30%) and the larger in the UK (all respondents).

Although the larger number of online students can be found, they also use the computer and Internet mostly to get information and as a communication tool. Again here most respondents use the computer for work-‐related purposes, which is not surprising given the fact that most of the professionally active persons in the study were British.

It seems that the elderly persons are willing to use new technologies, if they are available, still life-‐ long learning may be perceived rather as a form of social activity and not only realisation of the need to deepen the knowledge. 5. Healthy ageing Health and physical activity are important in every age, but as the time goes by it may also be a matter of concern. Our respondents were asked to assess they health in the scale from 0 to 10, where “0” meant that the person does not feel healthy at all and “10” that s/he feels as healthy as one can be. In our group about 20% of persons felt very healthy scoring themselves 10 or 9 and

over

assessed that they very

healthy

choosing the 8. Less then 1/10 of the respondents judged their state of health as

rather

unsatisfactory choosing 3, 4 or 1 (in 1 case). This assessment seems very optimistic. As in case of many questions the answers varied from country to country. In Poland, Turkey and the UK most of the answers were quite evenly distributed in the scale between 3 and 10, with slightly larger numbers chosen by the British respondents than Turks. In Belgium and especially in Italy most persons asked to assess their state of health chose 8 and 7, with fewer indications in smaller and larger numbers on the scale.

The state of health is a matter of serious concern also from financial perspective for 1/3 of the respondents. 50% of them are afraid that they may not be able to pay the bills once they have a chronic illness, such as diabetes, cancer or osteoarthritis. 25% of the respondents do not

worry

that

deteriorating health can have negative influence on their financial status.

Persons living in Turkey seem to be most optimistic in this regard, the British in majority neither agree nor agree and strong correlation between poor health and bad financial condition is rather obvious for most Italian and Polish respondents. As these answers are not reflected in the assessment of the respondent’s health state, they may either indicate strong pessimistic future perspective or, which is also quite probable, echoes the negative assessment of health services, which may be expensive and not easily available.

There are also two other aspects of healthy living reflected in the questionnaire. Respondents were asked about their physical exercises and frequency of medical checkups. Starting with more leisurely activity, some form of physical activity was undertaken by 2/3 of the respondents, in most cases on a rather regular basis.

60% of the persons exercise on a daily or weekly basis. Only in Turkey 69% of the respondents do not undertake any physical exercise and those who do, prefer to do it daily or weekly. In other countries most persons decide to move from the couch more than once a week. Unfortunately we do not know about the nature of this exercise, is it closer to sports, like running, cycling, attending a gym or rather gardening, walking or other mild form of movement. Perhaps good over all assessment of the health condition is somehow related with the willingness to spend the time actively. At the same time almost 1/3 of the respondents do not undertake any physical activity at all.

Visiting a doctor regularly also helps to state in good health. On the other hand frequent medical visits may indicate illness. Our respondents do not avoid doctors. 66% of the respondents visit a doctor or other formal caregivers once a month or less often. Almost 1/3 -‐ only once a year. Weekly and daily visits are rather infrequent (5%). Most of Belgian and Italian respondents visit a doctor once a month or few times a year. Yearly checkups are chosen by almost 50% of elderly persons in the UK and Turkey and Polish patients like to see their doctor few times a year (63%).

Again, as the questionnaire was rather general, we do not know if the visits aim to control general state of health or are connected to some chronic diseases. We cannot say either if respondents are patients of the public or private medical services.

6. Living conditions The vast majority of our respondents (86%) are owners of their own house or flat. 9% of them are renting apartments and some are building their house, are joint owners or rent a service flat. There was 100% of house (flat) owners in Poland and more persons renting apartment in Belgium (17%) and Italy (11%). This certainly allows supposing that most of the respondents live independently, however we do not know anything about their actual living conditions. How large is the house or flat, how is it situated? Is it far from shops, cultural centres, medical service etc.? Is it easy enough to access?

The answers to the following question suggest that this independency is very important to the persons interviewed. When asked how they would like to live if independent living was no longer possible, over 1/3 would like to accommodate their own house. Next option would be to move to a smaller house or flat, which can also imply living

independently.

Living with children or in a nursing home is a third

choice.

11%

would choose a service flat or in one case camping. This means that

half

the

respondents prefer to live on their own even if this would mean smaller living space or introduction of some adaptations to their own house. It is also very interesting to note that answers vary significantly in each country. Moving to a smaller house or flat or accommodating their own is the only choice of the British respondents. Moving to a smaller house is not an option for the Polish respondents at all! If accommodating

their home or flat were not possible they would rather live with their children than in a nursing home. The Turkish responses were close to the average ones, but they would also choose their children’s company than a nursing home. The Belgians prefer to move to a smaller house or flat than to accommodate their own, contrary to Italians, but both nations prefer to move to a nursing home than share flat with their children. These answers may reflect to a certain extent customs and a situation in the real estate market. In those countries where it is relatively easy to change a house or apartment, respondents consider this option as a better one. Family bounds may still be stronger in Poland and Turkey and the respondents may view as natural the fact that if necessary children take care of their elderly parent who cannot live on their own.

The answers to another question concerning independent living were also quite diverse. The respondents were asked if older adults should sell their houses and move to adjusted housing once they encounter physical and psychological limitations. 43% of the persons did not agree with this statement and 37%

agreed.

difference

The

strong

opinions

therefore visible. In Belgium the answers were also split into two with comparable

number of answers supporting each option. In Poland and Turkey over 50% of respondents disagree with the statement, just like in the UK. However it is possible that in the latter case the source of reluctance is the conviction that persons should live in their own house, while in the first two countries -‐ that the family should take care of them. Most of Italians agreed with the statement, which also coincided with the respondent’s preference to live in a nursing home than with their children.

7. Financial situation In the questionnaire the respondents were also asked to assess their financial situation. They could score it with numbers from 0 to 10, where “0” meant that they find it very difficult to make the ends meet at the end of the month and “10”, that they do not experience any financial problems. Our respondents were very optimistic in this regard. 90% of them scored 5-‐10 and over 1/3 chose answers 10-‐8. This of course does not reflect the amount of their income, e.g. how it is placed in reference to minimum or average wage in the country. Certainly more of the

persons taking part in the questionnaire were worried about their health than finances. It appears that the Belgians were among the most satisfied ones, as they chose scores 10, 9 and 8 most often. The British were rather choosing 7 and 6, Italians 6, 7 and 8, Turks-‐ 5, 7 and 10 and Polish, as the least satisfied group chose 5, 6 and 8 most often. 3 Italians chose 2, 4 Polish and 3 British indicated values below 5, and one Belgian chose 3.

9. Intergenerational solidarity One of the elements of intergenerational solidarity was already reflected to a certain extent in the previous questions. When no longer able to live on their own, some of the respondents (mostly from Poland and Turkey) would choose to live with their children. The fact that care is provided to children and grandchildren but also parents is also an element of inter-‐generational (and family) solidarity. The respondents

were

asked if they provide care

their

grandchildren, children, parents,

friends

other members of the family and neighbours. Over 70% provide care to their children and grandchildren, about 1/3 to other members of the family and their friends and 1/5 to the neighbours. Again, as the question is rather general we do not find out either if the care is reciprocal or anything about its nature: is it financial help, are these personal care taking services, cooking a dinner, shopping or any other activity.

In Italy and Turkey the elderly mainly provide care for their children and grandchildren too much lesser extent to the other groups mentioned. Among Belgian respondents also about 1/5 provides care to their grandchildren and children, similarly to Italy and Turkey about 1/10 to friends or other members of the family, some for neighbours, but none of the respondents declared providing care for their parents. This can be a coincidence, as in such a small group of persons it could happen that their parents do not need any help, as they are fit, healthy and wealthy, or they

may no longer be alive. But it may also reflect a social attitude: the older should help the younger, but not vice versa. This conclusion could also be drawn looking at the preferences in case of inability to live on their own. The Belgians, if they needed assistance in daily living, would rather move to a smaller flat, adapt their own or move to a nursing home than live with their children. 1/10 of Polish respondents declared they provided care for their grandchildren 8 and 7 % -‐ for their children and parents. On the other hand they declared that they see their family members quite often and in case of disability would rather live with their children than in a nursing home. The British respondents were among those who declared they rarely provide help for others. 7% for their parents, 6% and 5% for their grandchildren and children. They also chose independent living above all. It seems that self-‐dependence is an important value.

At the same time 56% of the respondents declared that care for older adults should be the family matter in the first place. 1/5 did not express any

opinion and about ¼ disagreed. However the replies were again quite different in each country. The picture seems to be quite concise for Turkey, where 94% of respondents declared that care for older adults should be a family matter. In Belgium the answers were almost evenly distributed: 34% disagreed with the statement, 30% agreed and 37% were indifferent. In Italy preferences shifted towards the role of family (59%) with 21% opposing to the statement and 21% indifferent. In Poland 50% agreed that the care should be provided by the family, but 34% (just like in Belgium) disagreed. At the same time more Poles chose to live with family than in a nursing house. This may indicate that taking care for older members of the family is perceived rather as a burden, which may be difficult to avoid due to unsatisfactory caring infrastructure outside family. The answers provided by the UK respondents are also interesting: while from the previous replies we could draw a conclusion that

independent living is important and elderly persons do not socialise with younger ones, 50% replied, that the family should take care of older family members and only 28% disagreed with the statement. This in turn could indicate that declared values differ from the actual behaviour and the respondents would rather get more attention from their family when they need it. 8. Concept of active ageing The final part of the questionnaire

concerned

the concept of active ageing. The respondents were asked to assume how active they are, whether they would like to be more active, what hinders them and what is important for them. Just as assessing their health and financial situation, the respondents were asked to score their activity in a scale form 0 to 10, where 10 signified very active and 0 not active. Generally, the largest number of replies (34%) indicated 8, less-‐ 17% -‐ 7, 15% and 12% -‐ 10 and 9. This means that the respondents often feel they are active, which is also confirmed by the statement supported by 59% of the respondents that their life is as active as they want it to be. 41% would like to be more active.

Answers from Belgium were close to average with 67% of respondents satisfied with the level of their activity. There were even more active and satisfied (71%) Italians. 44% chose 8 as an indicator of their activity level, 29% chose 10 and 18% -‐ 7. The half of the Turkish respondents would like to be

more active (54%). A third chose 7 as an indicator, 26% -‐ 9 and only 9% 10. Unfortunately there are no answers from the part of the questionnaire concerning active ageing from Poland.

The obstacles to more intense activity is usually the health condition (49%) financial situation (20%) other circumstances, among which we find being too busy, working to hard and taking care for their grandchildren (which in fact means that the respondent was very active but perhaps not in a leisurely way). In the “other” category the respondents mentioned also being lazy or not making enough effort to change and stated that the reason is age, which “slows you down” (which in

turn

could

connected to overall health or well-‐being). 9% of the respondents declared

that

the

reason why they are not active enough was lack of friend or partner to be active with. This reply probably suggested that the concept of activity was connected to leisure and not work or family obligations.

Let us quickly have a look at the national answers. Health condition is the most important obstacle for Belgian respondents (70%) and for the British (67%). The nest disadvantageous factor for them is financial situation and for 11% of Turks, lack of company. For Italians health and finances are an obstacle for 40% but nobody complained about lack of companion, which is understandable when we look at the answers concerning their social activity. Only 29% British complained about their health 36% and named other obstacles (being too busy, working to hard, age and not making enough effort) but 21% indicated absence of a good friend or partner, which also coincides with the replies concerning social life.

Finally the respondents were asked what was most important for them at the moment as they thought about active ageing. The most popular answer concerned keeping in touch with children and grandchildren, next living in their own home as long as possible, similar number of answers was attributed to going to cultural

events

(like

cinema,

theatre

etc.),

doing sports and voluntary work.

Least

popular

answers included being active in the labour marker and attending religious service in a church or mosque. For Italian respondents answers were distributed quite evenly in each category, like for Belgians (with slight preference for keeping in touch with the family), while for the UK and Turkey the order of preference was similar to the average.

Final remarks The research undertaken in the project covered just a very small group of older persons and the questions presented were often quite general. It is therefore not possible to draw very universal yet specific conclusions about the needs of the elderly persons in the countries that take part in the project. However, it is of course possible to share some remarks on the canvas of the research outcomes.

The respondents presented themselves as a group of rather active persons, who do not complain too much about their health or financial situation. They would like to keep the level of activity they have currently or in some cases, to be even more active. It is not easy to draw one consistent picture of active ageing. Some of the respondents underlined the leisurely aspect of activity, like participation in social and cultural events, doing sports etc. However we can see that professional activity plays more prominent role than e.g. voluntary work not to mention political engagement. The new technologies serve the elderly persons rather to keep social bonds, get information or for pure entertainment than to learn or work. Perhaps for this group of persons learning and getting new skills should rather be connected to social activity, possibility to interact with others than to study alone in front of the computer. This could be especially important in these groups where older generation does not have many possibilities to meet the younger, where family bonds are not too strong and a neighbourhood is no longer associated with a group of friends or acquaintances. Coming back to the issue of professional activity: some of the interviewed persons were still active in this field, but at the same time many indicated that the workplace was not adapted to changing needs of elderly persons. Perhaps one of the keys to longer career are not only measures that protect these person from unlawful dismissal but rather allowing them to change character of their work, to slow down the pace of work, to profit from their experience that they could share training r mentoring younger workers. The respondents also underlined the role of the state. Given the fact that participation in society is very important for the wellbeing of older adults, they were asked if the government should provide stimulating measures (financial interventions for membership, infrastructure for organizations, free transport,). 83% of them

agreed with the statement and jus 11% did not. The national answers to this question are very interesting. Strongest support for the state role can be seen in Poland, perhaps as a legacy of dozens of years of centrally planned economy and in Italy. The largest number of respondents who opposed to the role of the state can be found in Belgium.

Certainly one of the very important aspects of active ageing is the possibility to live independently in one’s own house or a flat. For those who cannot cope with daily chores by their own, better solution is to adapt their house or to move to a smaller one than to give up current lifestyle. Perhaps a possibility to obtain assistance in their own home would also be preferable than moving to their children’s homes or to a nursing home. From the replies we can also suppose that even in these cases where the respondents declare that the younger generation should take care of the older one, this is to a certain extent perceived as a burden, which should be taken over by an institution (the state or private ones) or an expression of desire for stronger social bonds. The policy measures undertaken should therefore aim at enabling the elderly persons to live independently as long as it is possible, by providing them an assistance or facilitation adaptation of their homes to their specific needs.

Annexes 1. Report Active Ageing Gruntvig. 2. Report. Belgium. 3. Report: Italy. 4. Report: Poland 5. Report: Turkey 6. Report: UK